Hybrids Hed2Hed

LEXUS RX 400hThe RX 400h takes hybrid technology into the luxury market. Here fuel prices aren't much of a concern, but plenty of folks want something environmentally friendly. The interior is lushly trimmed and well laid out, as you'd expect from a car with the Lexus pedigree. The RX 400h trades a bit of fuel economy for performance, offering a power train that punches out 268 horsepower - enough to push zero-to-60 times to barely seven seconds. That way you can help the planet and tromp the kid in the next lane. It takes time to get used to the especially silent startup and the odd revs of its continuously variable transmission. But once you do, you'll likely find it the most fun-to-drive hybrid on the market.Wired: Surprisingly impressive performance. Good mileage. Distinctive styling and well-equipped interior.Tired: Hit the accelerator and watch your gas mileage plunge.$49,000 (Est), www.lexus.com

View

TOYOTA PRIUSThe original Prius was ungainly and sacrificed a lot in performance and creature comforts. The second-gen US model is actually stylish, inside and out, with a sloped design that sets it apart from other cars. It's also a lot more fun to drive than the original, with a peppier (though still not exactly powerful) hybrid-electric power train that can operate in any of three modes: electric, gas-only, or gas-electric. We were mesmerized by the video display that showed, moment by moment, how much gas mileage we were getting - so much so that we nearly rammed the big truck stopped ahead of us. And with gas mileage as high as 60 city and 51 highway, it's one of 2005's high-mileage champs.Wired: Options include a navigation system and JBL stereo.Tired: Waiting lists and high dealer markups. Performance is adequate - if you don't care about performance.$20,875, www.toyota.com

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRIDThis gas-electric version of the popular SUV will take Toyota's hybrid technology further into the mainstream when the Highlander Hybrid hits the market midyear. Like the Prius, it uses a version of the automaker's sophisticated Synergy Drive System. In the Highlander, it will be tuned to meet the needs of SUV owners. This means plenty of low-end torque and lots of cargo-hauling capacity. In fact, preliminary specs seem hard to believe. The hybrid's V-6 has been throttled to improve mileage, cutting torque to 212 pound-feet, but add to that two separate electric motors, one producing 96 pound-feet, the other a whopping 247. You should be able to haul the Queen Mary 2.Due on streets: JuneWorth the wait? If the numbers are right - high torque, high horsepower, good mileage - it's a great package.$33,680 (Est), www.toyota.com

*All prices are for base models.

Paul A. Eisenstein (paul@thecarconnection.com) is the founder of TheCarConnection.com, an online automotive publication based in Detroit.